Kind-hearted Scotmid staff are getting on their bikes and going coast to coast for children in need.

They’re led by Cambuslang man Jim Harper, 48, who will be joined by two colleagues from the north of England on a 150 mile journey from Whitehaven to Tynemouth on May 16 - all in the hope of raising £4,000 for NSPCC Scotland and its Childline service.

Regional business manager Jim has previously cycled the length of Britain, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and he has biked it from London to Paris.

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However the latest charity challenge could be an uphill battle, as the group start their two-day trip by scaling the summit of Hart Side Mountain in the Lake District - a 2,000ft climb and just a fifth of their 10,000ft uphill total.

The group will stop in at most of the 10 Scotmid shops along the way for rest and recovery, and in the hope of boosting their fundraising total.

Scotmid is on track to raise £300,000 for Childline’s 30th anniversary, so we have no doubt the group’s colleagues will be behind them.

Jim, who has worked for Scotmid for 16 years, said: “I’m looking forward to it and there’s a lot of benefit in doing something like this that can help individuals become part of a team.

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“I’m part of the charity committee at Scotmid that helps to choose our partners and when I heard the pitch from the NSPCC and Childline I knew how important it would be.

“I’ve also been fortunate enough to have had Esther Rantzen at one of my shops to thank staff for fundraising for Childline as well so the message has landed and it’s a wonderful charity.”

Deborah Quinn, corporate fundraising executive with NSPCC Scotland said: “We are so grateful for the time and effort that Jim and the team have put into organising and training for the coast to coast cycling challenge.

“It shows an amazing commitment and dedication in raising funds for Childline. The £4,000 target they have set themselves is equivalent to the cost of answering 1,000 Childline calls from children and young people who need our support and is greatly appreciated.”